The Test Events of the 2026 Milano Cortina Paralympics started in Val di Fiemme
In Lago di Tesero blue sky and warm sun, three times Canada, USA, Ukraine and Austria in gold
Tomorrow continues with the Para Biathlon and the 7.5 km Sprint event at the Cross-Country Stadium
The Test Events are organised by the Foundation with the support of the local CO Nordic Ski Val di Fiemme
The Para Nordic Test Events begin in the sign of Para Biathlon in Val di Fiemme, which is getting closer and closer to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics. The first day of competition of the IBU Para Biathlon World Cup saw the successes of Canada and the United States, Ukraine and Austria in the Sprint Pursuit.
The thrilling race format of the Sprint Pursuit included a first qualifying part with the Sprint that animated the morning with blue skies and warm sunshine at the Lago di Tesero Cross-Country Stadium, while the afternoon saw the Pursuit fraction, each with two passes from the shooting range: in the qualifications, errors at the range were ‘discounted’ with the addition of 15’ on the time, while in the race each error resulted in a 75m penalty lap.
In the Sitting category, North America took the lead with clear successes from the sit-ski of Kendall Gretsch from the USA and Derek Zaplotinsky from Canada.
The Standing category was dominated by Canadians Brittany Hudak and Mark Arendz, who combined prodigious performances on cross-country skis with precision on the range, both recording a ‘double zero’ in the Pursuit event.
Visually impaired biathletes competed side by side with their guides and victory went to Austria's Carina Edlinger (guide Michael Seyss-Inquart) and Ukraine's Iaroslav Reshetynskyi (guide Dmytro Drahun).
Tomorrow will continue with the 7.5 km Sprint race for the Paralympic Test Events organised by the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 with the valuable support of the Nordic Ski Val di Fiemme Committee and its hard-working volunteers, who even on a weekday like today made themselves available to ensure the smooth running of the World Cup events.
TV images download: www.broadcaster.it
Sprint Pursuit – Women Sitting
1 Gretsch Kendall Usa 12:42.5; 2 Wicker Anja Ger 13:29.8; 3 Kim Yunji Kor 13:50.7; 4 Wang Shiyu Chn 14:06.3; 5 Zhai Yuxin Chn 14:24.8; 6 Dos Santos Rocha Aline Bra 16:18.7; 7 Han Seunghee Kor 18:16.8; 8 Martin Erin Usa 21:06.7
Sprint Pursuit – Men Sitting
1 Zaplotinsky Derek Can 11:42.3; 2 Khamitov Yerbol Kaz 11:50.0; 3 Liu Zixu Chn 12:11.1; 4 Shin Eui Hyun Kor 12:43.1; 5 Wang Tao Chn 12:44.8; 6 Liu Mengtao Chn 13:10.5; 7 Mao Zhongwu Chn 13:23.0; 8 Meenagh Scott Gbr 13:36.3; 9 Kravchuk Vasyl Ukr 14:08.5; 10 Ussoltsev Sergey Kaz 14:46.7
Sprint Pursuit – Women Standing
1 Hudak Brittany Can 15:34.1; 2 Bui Iryna Ukr 15:46.1; 3 Zhao Zhiqing Chn 16:00.1; 4 Kononova Oleksandra Ukr 16:05.4; 5 Wilkie Natalie Can 16:11.2; 6 Liashenko Liudmyla Ukr 16:25.8; 7 Guo Yujie Chn 17:35.6; 8 Aravich Danielle Usa 17:51.6; 9 Konashuk Bohdana Ukr 18:34.8
Sprint Pursuit – Men Standing
1 Arendz Mark Can 12:58.2; 2 Maier Marco Ger 13:44.6; 3 Vovchynskyi Grygorii Ukr 13:48.6; 4 Daviet Benjamin Fra 14:00.8; 5 Romaniuk Serhii Ukr 14:26.5; 6 Shevchyk Nazar Ukr 15:11.3; 7 Sereda Dmytro Ukr 15:20.2; 8 Gerlits Alexandr Kaz 15:34.5; 9 Liu Xiaobin Chn 15:41.5; 10 Tabouret Karl Fra 16:11.5
Sprint Pursuit – Women Vision Impaired
1 Edlinger Carina Aut 14:36.1; 2 Walter Leonie Maria Ger 14:52.8; 3 Wang Yue Chn 15:20.3; 4 Recktenwald Johanna Ger 16:14.4; 5 Shyshkova Oksana Ukr 16:25.8; 6 Kazmaier Linn Ger 16:31.9; 7 Varkovets Ilona Ukr 17:18.3; 8 Tkachenko Nataliia Ukr 17:26.8; 9 Lobasheva Romana Ukr 19:54.0; 10 Dickens Taryn Aus 24:38.1
Sprint Pursuit – Men Vision Impaired
1 Reshetynsky Iiaroslav Ukr 12:36.0; 2 Kovalevskyi Anatolii Ukr 12:56.2; 3 Messinger Nico Ger 13:02.6; 4 Yu Shuang Chn 13:12.8; 5 Kaziko Leksandr Ukr 13:16.2; 6 Murashkovskyi Maksym Ukr 13:33.9; 7 Suiarko Dmytro Ukr 13:59.4; 8 Bienko Blazej Pol 14:00.7; 9 Modin Zebastian Swe 14:25.9; 10 Gil Pawel Pol 14:42.7
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